Puri is bracing up to launch a massive protest against the Rs 24,000-crore Vedanta University that is to be set up by Anil Agarwal Foundation. Three major organisations, led by Jagannath Sevayat Sammelani, are preparing to observe protest days next month.
The Vedanta Virodhi Sangharsa Samiti, Bhu-sampati Surakhya Parisad and the Sevayat Sammelani are, jointly, going to call bandh in Puri from April 12 to 14.
“A public meeting will be held on April 5 at Puri, which will be followed by various protests against the University,” said Uma Bhallav Rath, a leader of the anti-Vedanta University campaign.
Meanwhile, the opposition demanded scraping of the MoU with the Foundation in the assembly on Monday. The opposition members, while discussing on the admissibility of an adjournment motion on the issue, attacked the government protesting against the undue favour shown to a company having ‘doubtful integrity’.
Congress leader Narsingha Mishra said the state government is showing undue haste in land acquisition for the project. It had acquired land for the Foundation even before it become a public limited company, thus violating the land acquisition Act of the state, he said.
He also said the government notification, restricting construction works around five km radius of the university, is undemocratic. There is no force measure clause in the MoU in case the Foundation withdrew from the project, he added. However, revenue minister Manmohan Samal ruled out all such charges.
The higher education minister, Sameer Dey, also defended the government step, saying this world class university will not only open up scope for the Orissa students, but also contribute to the human resources development and economy of the state. He assured the government will take necessary steps to safeguard the interest of the people of Orissa while executing the project. Even though the Foundation had asked for 8000 acres, the government has agreed to provide only 6000 acres for the project, he said.